B/R Kicks: February Release Calendar

February has consistently been a strong month for sneaker releases. Piggybacking off the NBA's All-Star Weekend—this year it gets rolling in sunny Los Angeles—Nike, Adidas and other brands are putting their proverbial best foot forward.

B/R Kicks decided to take a look at what you can expect in the coming days, ranging from Adidas' ambitious Crazy BYW project to Nike's Kobe Zoom Protro 1. No matter how you cut it up, February is going to be a financial strain for consumers.

Adidas: Crazy BYW

Image courtesy of Adidas.

Adidas' momentum over the past three years has been staggering to watch. The brand has managed to outdo its competition in terms of producing original releases.

With 2018 still floating around as a newborn, Adidas made sure to keep the good vibes alive by delivering the Crazy BYW shoe. The BYW moniker stands for "Boost You Wear." It's a play on Adidas' "Feet You Wear" campaign from the 90s.

This callback was updated by incorporating Boost technology for maximum support and hotel-mattress blends of comfort. And as we've come to expect, the sneaker is an aesthtic beauty. Rather than simply retro the Crazy 8, Adidas went out and upped the ante.

Release Date: February 15

Price: $170

Air Jordan I 'NRG'

Image courtesy of Nike.

Dressed with a debonair black and champagne gold coating, the Air Jordan I "NRG" attempts to bring new minds into the fold, while giving hardcore Air Jordan fans a rare opportunity to scoop a dynamite version of the classic silohuette.

No matter what side of the conversation you fall on, it's hard to shake the feeling the "NRG" I will become an instant seller. Slated to hit retailers on February 16, this shoe will be equipped with a $160 price tag.

Release Date: February 16

Price: $160

Adidas: Dame 4 x Bape

Image courtesy of Adidas.

Adidas decided to showcase its collaborative spirit when producing the Dame 4 x Bape. And like everything else the Three-Stripe regime has done lately, the execution feels right at home.

For whatever reason, the dynamic Bape colorways fit the Dame 4's silohuette perfectly. It's unexpected yet stunning. It also begs the question, has there been a better Adidas hoops shoe released in the last five years?

Followers of Bape and fans of Adidas will be all over this project. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come. Because this is an excellent shoe.

Release Date: February 18

Price: $150

Nike: Air Jordan III 'Free Throw Line' & 'Black Cement'

Image courtesy of Nike.

Let's go ahead and call 2018 the year of the Air Jordan III. Between Tinker Hatfield's "lost" versions to Justin Timberlake's unique collection, the III has made its triumphant return.

On February 14 and 17, two additional cuts are set to hit retailers. The "Free Throw Line" III, dosed in a white "Cement" base with a free-throw line painted onto the sole kicks off the festivities. Three days later, the "Black Cement" gets its proper debut—unlike the limited quickstrike release we saw in January.

It's a time to celebrate history. For years, the Jordan III has served as a wonderful reminder of how this shoe changed Jordan's signature line for the better. And truth be told, we can't get enough of these original colorways.

Release Date: February 14 and 17

Price: $200

Under Armour Curry 4 'All-Star'

Image courtesy of Under Armour.

At this point, it's clear Stephen Curry's best sneaker is the Curry 4. Aesthetically pleasing and constructed to perform through any condition, the Curry 4 has reinvented Under Armour's brand, while giving Curry the gift of a classic shoe.

All-Star Weekend brings the Curry 4 "All-Star" to the table. Dosed in a traditional white colorway, with an icy sole, this shoe showcases just how beautiful the Curry 4 can be when given the right color scheme.

Release Date: February 16

Price: $130

Adidas Harden Vol. 2

Image courtesy of Adidas.

Adidas struck gold with the release of the Harden Vol 1. The sneaker performed well and turned into the calling-card for Houston Rockets' guard James Harden.

Vol. 2 is the highly anticipated follow up. "It’s tailored to my game and quick change of direction," Harden told the people over at Adidas News. The shoe features Adidas' brand new FORGEFIBER technology. This marks the first time FORGEFIBER is released in the form of a wearable, on-court model.

What's unique about Vol. 2 aside from its technological gains is the colorways. Painted more to look like a high-brow art gallery, the shoe is a cultural step forward from the Vol. 1.

Adidas is clearly focused on Harden and his footwear line and we should all be grateful for that.

Release Date: February 16

Price: $140

Air Jordan VIII 'OVO'

Image courtesy of Nike.

Drake's sustained dominance over the Air Jordan brand peaks its head once again on February 16. Forged in two distinct colorways, the Toronto MC returns with black and white versions of the "OVO" VIII.

The Air Jordan VIII itself is an interesting sneaker. It doesn't receive the accolades or notoriety of its peers, yet the shoe is remarkbly comfortable and stands alone in its design.

Thanks to his popularity, Drake has a chance to make this shoe relevant again. Which in a way is amazing, considering how slept-on the Air Jordan VIII has become over the years.

Release Date: February 16

Price: $225

Nike Air Zoom Generation 'Wheat'

Image courtesy of Nike.

Are you ready for the Nike Air Zoom Generation "Wheat?"

LeBron James' debut shoe receives Nike's timeless "Wheat" treatment just in time for All-Star Weekend. This colorway can be polarizing. However, for those who love Timberlands and winter tones, the "Wheat" Air Zoom Generation serves as a perfect remedy.

We haven't seen a ton of LeBron retros and that's what makes a release like this even more special. It returns 14 years after King James first wore the Air Zoom Generation during the All-Star Rookie Challenge in Los Angeles.

Release Date: February 17

Price: $175

Nike: Kobe Zoom 1 Protro

Image courtesy of Nike.

Kobe Bryant's signature line has earned the reputation of being a tech marvel. Even after he left the sport, Nike has continued to produce and market new models.

For his part, the Black Mamba remains dedicated to innovation. He believes simply creating retros isn't the correct decision. "It just didn’t fit right with everything I stood for, with the Mamba Brand," he explained to Nike News.

In February, Bryant's idea of what a retro should be will finally come to life.

The Nike Kobe Zoom 1 Protro is a revised take on Kobe's first shoe. "This updated version of the Zoom Kobe 1 carries the same aesthetic but has been upgraded with 2018 technology," Nike News explained.

Releasing February 17, this shoe arrives just in time for the start of 2018. A triumph for Bryant and his line, as the state of retros may never be the same again.

Release Date: February 17

Price: $175

All information provided by Adidas News and Nike News, unless noted otherwise.